Monday, 7 January 2019

Misrule

This is the
third book in McAlister’s Valentine series, the other two being Valentine and Ironheart. With the words ‘This is not a fairytale’ on the front cover,
the book is nevertheless filled with magic and could best be described as paranormal.

Pearl Langford’s boyfriend Finn, who
is a magical fairy prince, is kidnapped by his older brother and whisked away
to fulfil his destiny in their fairy kingdom. Of course, Pearl is not impressed
and decides on a boyfriend rescue mission, as would any girl in love. She has
told Finn she would come to get him, and she will not allow anyone to stand in
her way. This involves tearing a hole in the universe and possible deaths of
others, and, the question is, does Finn want to be saved?

The opening
sentence is memorable: ‘One thing I never
knew about grief is that it was exhausting.’ This is narrated by Pearl who has
undergone the deaths of her mother, her grandmother and her friend Marie ‘killed
and eaten by carnivorous water monsters’, the after-effects she has witnessed. Here are words from the book: ‘...she’s
lying on the kitchen floor, covered in horrible rivers of blood, splatters and
streams of red all over the cabinets like the most horrifying children’s
painting ever, and a gash in her neck so deep I’m amazed her head is even still
attached to her body.’ Yes, McAliser writes extremely well, but be prepared
for vivid descriptions such as this one!

Described as
‘unputdownable’, Misrule is an
adventure story, a mix of action, romance and wit, and is highly suitable for a
YA readership.